"You Discipled Us With Your Life"

On a large ceramic coffe mug that was signed by former students and youth leaders from our time in Illinois,  mug that often holds my morning caffeine fix, is this one thought from a youth leader: "you discipled us with your life."  Earlier in the week I posted a blog called the It of Your Life.  That simple expression defines and describes the IT of life of my wife and I. 

The youth leader was Andre Tripplett.  We got news yesterday that at the age of 27 Andre went home to be with Jesus.  But as Meredith and I have reflected the past 24 plus hours we came to this conclusion.  There are a lot of people who don't get our IT, but Andre did.  Not only did Andre get IT, but Andre lived IT. 

Discipleship is not a 6 or 13 week study.  It is not a getaway weekend retreat. It is not a book you by at the bookstore. While all these things are beneficial. It is simply life on life.  It is late night conversations.  It is unexpected phone calls.  It is watching the students of your life win. It is watching them lose.  It is giving everything you have to individuals to at times see them walk away and do exactly the opposite.  It is years later seeing them giving IT away. 

Our IT does not necessarily attract large crowds.  Our IT is not a church growth plan.  Our IT is slow, grueling and the most rewarding way we could live our life.  Our IT is putting our lives into someone else's life and teaching them the most important principle of being a disciple: give away all that you have been given.

Andre gave.  And he gave some more.  I think from the outpouring of comments that document his impact.  Whether he knew it our not he discipled us with is life.

To 'Dre

I am sitting at my desk with the sound of clicks on a keyboard because if I were to say it aloud I might break down and cry. So here is to my friend where so many days were spent over a cup of coffee dreaming, growing, laughing.

You were truly a man after God's own heart. While I thought I was teaching you, you were really teaching me. Your life was teaching me how to be humble, how to be graceful, how to love unconditionally. I watched you smile in midst of incredible pain, a smile that would light up a room. I watched you open you lengthy arms and embrace those who needed a hug. I watched as you unassuming persona spoke words of life and built others up, all the while your meekness never recognizing how great you were.

I think all of us somewhere in us looked at you and said "I wish I could be like that." You were a musician, an artist, a brother, a son, a servant, a friend, a hard-worker, a leader, a worshipper, a LOVER OF JESUS. You were bright, intelligent, smart, funny, witty and at times slow to get a joke. You were an overcomer as you fought you dsylexia to continue to read and learn and grow. You are the kind of man tha I want my boys to grow up to be like.

My heart broke when I heard the news. Yet at the same time leapt with joy for you. You are playing that over-sized Guild guitar in the one place you always wanted to be, with Jesus. Today, you will never lay hurting in a hospital bed, but will lay yourself at the feet of Jesus. Today, you will never have to sit out a dance for shortness of breath, but will dance for eternity. Today is an ending and a beginning. Today, we don't say good-bye, but simply say we will see you soon.

Your my friend and a brother. You are my favorite black man.
I love you!
Love,
PJ